HD Radio™ Technology at CES 2011 ... More Than Ever:

COLUMBIA, Md., Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

HD Radio Technology Positioned For Increased Growth

More Advanced Features Enhance the User Experience

New CE Products

New OEM Vehicles

New Brand Architecture

More National Consumer Promotional Support – $120 Million

HD Radio Booth:  Central Hall 9029

The HD Radio Technology showcase features the latest CE products for Home, Portable, Auto and iPod/iPhone; as well as the 2011 Ford Fusion, VW Jetta, and Subaru Forester, each equipped with HD Radio Technology.

More Advanced Features Enhance the User Experience

The rapid commercialization of several HD Radio Advanced Features will be on display at the HD Radio Booth:

• Artist Experience – Visual images now display on equipped HD Radio receivers.  Album art, concert photos, station logos, and other imagery.  First launched on the Insignia NS-HD02 portable HD Radio player, iBiquity will show several new products featuring Artist Experience; including the first OEM implementation, by Volkswagen.
• Bookmark – A music and information discovery service, Bookmark allows listeners to capture and store information about radio content in real time for later reference.  The Bookmark service can also deliver QR Codes directly to HD Radio receivers, which enables consumers to directly link to a website or other resource using a smart phone app.
• Live Pause – For the first time, digital broadcast audio content and Program Service Data (PSD) can be stored on HD Radio receivers.

OEM:  17 Brands -- More than 85 Vehicle Types   --  36 Standard

Automakers substantially increased their commitments to HD Radio Technology over the past 12 months, and iBiquity expects strong corresponding growth in HD Radio equipped car sales in 2011.

Importantly, Toyota Motor Sales has announced the launch of HD Radio Technology in 2012 Model Year vehicles.  Toyota will be the first OEM to offer the iTunes® Tagging feature on all radios that include HD Radio Technology.

The first ever factory installed implementation of the newest HD Radio Technology advanced feature – Artist Experience – will be showcased by Volkswagen at CES in the HD Radio booth.

HD Radio Technology's growth in the OEM segment is principally driven by three positive trends:  First, many brands have made their HD Radio offerings a standard feature, such as BMW, Volvo, Mini, while other brands have broadened their HD Radio vehicle line-ups, such as Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Lincoln, Land Rover and Audi.  Second, HD Radio Technology is being installed on many new vehicles targeted to the mass market.  Such models as the Ford Fusion, Ford Explorer, Ford F-150, Hyundai Sonata, Scion tC and iQ, VW Jetta, VW Tiguan, Jaguar, Mini Cooper and Subaru Forester now feature HD Radio Technology in popular option packages. Finally, as an increasingly important part of the in-car entertainment experience, HD Radio receiver volumes continue to rise with the upward trend in overall new car sales.

CE Products:  All Leading Automotive Aftermarket Brands Now Offer Built-in HD Radio Technology

CES 2011 will serve as the launching point of many new automotive aftermarket models featuring built-in HD Radio Technology.  Notable new models include first ever HD Radio built-in head units from Alpine and Clarion, as well as several models which expand the product ranges of market share leaders Kenwood, JVC, Pioneer, and Sony.

HD Radio Advanced Features continue to add to the cachet of the auto aftermarket category. Of note is the JVC KW-NT50HDT, the first ever auto aftermarket launch of Artist Experience.  This model also includes Total Traffic + (a Clear Channel service) and iTunes Tagging, marking the first time these three Advanced Features are available on a single CE device.

CE Products:  First HD Radio enabled iPad/iPhone/iPod Docking System includes iTunes Tagging

Insignia has announced the NS-IPHDR1, the first HD Radio enabled "built for iPad" docking system.  The product also features iTunes Tagging, the service developed with Apple and radio broadcasters that enables consumers to tag songs for later preview and purchase on iTunes. iTunes Tagging has now been implemented across many product categories since the initial launch on docking speaker systems.

CE Products:  Home Audio Category continues to grow with more mass market price points

AV receiver market leaders Denon, Marantz, and Yamaha continue to expand their HD Radio Technology equipped line-ups.  New models hit broad price points ranging from as low as $300 to $2,000. The offerings join a wide array of more than 35 HD Radio equipped models from fourteen major brands including ADA, Anthem, Auvio, DaySequerra, Denon, Insignia, Integra, Marantz, McIntosh, Niles, Onkyo, Sangean, Sony, and Yamaha.

AVR category growth has been significant.  Denon models range from the AVR-1911 ($599.99) to the AVR-4311CI ($1999.99).  Yamaha models range from the RX-A800 ($749.99) to the RX-A3000 ($1699.99).  Marantz models range from the SR 6005 ($999.99) to the AV 7005 ($1999.99). New market entries include the Anthem MRX 700, a full featured model ($1,999.99), and the Sherwood RD 7405HDR ($299.99), designed to reach into the mass market price range.

Consumer Marketing Support to Surpass $120 Million in 2011

The HD Radio Alliance and iBiquity will develop and implement a wide range of marketing and promotional programs in support of HD Radio Technology products during Calendar Year 2011.

Mass media, public relations, viral initiatives, CE retail support programs, auto dealer support programs, retail training programs, radio broadcast station promotions, and trade show participation will be utilized.  These programs are expected to deliver more than $120 Million in market value in support of HD Radio enabled products during the year.

The backbone of the consumer marketing programs will again be nationwide radio campaigns managed by the HD Radio Alliance with support from their member broadcasters, now more than 650 stations strong. Campaigns will be designed to drive sales of HD Radio receivers developed by iBiquity licensed CE product, Automotive OEM and retail partners.

New Brand Architecture Designed to Assist Retail Sales

Artist Experience, Bookmark and Live Pause join other previously commercialized Advanced Services:  PSD, HD2/HD3 channels, Digital Sound, iTunes Tagging and Traffic.  These product features are being represented on product packaging with the new HD Radio Brand Architecture.  

The HD Radio Brand Architecture provides visual keys to communicate features included in HD Radio receiver products.

About iBiquity Digital Corp.

iBiquity Digital Corporation is the developer of HD Radio Technology, which is fueling the digital radio revolution in the United States and around the world.  The digital technology enables broadcasters to offer new HD2/HD3 FM channels through multicasting, crystal-clear sound and data service on both the AM and FM bands – all free, with no subscription fee.  Leading broadcasters, consumer electronics manufacturers, automakers and retailers are committed to HD Radio Technology.  iBiquity Digital is a privately held company with operations in Columbia, MD, Auburn Hills, MI, and Basking Ridge, NJ.  For more information, please visit www.hdradio.com and www.ibiquity.com.

SOURCE iBiquity Digital Corp.